Baobab facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baobab |
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Adansonia
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The Baobab is a special type of tree. Its scientific name is Adansonia. There are eight different kinds of baobab trees. Six of them grow in dry parts of Madagascar. Two kinds are found in mainland Africa. One type lives in Australia, and three are in India. The baobab is the national tree of Madagascar.
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What are Baobab Trees Called?
Baobab trees have many interesting nicknames. People call them 'boab', 'boaboa', and 'bottle tree'. They are also known as 'the tree of life', 'upside-down tree', and 'monkey bread tree'. These names often describe how the tree looks or what it provides.
How Big Do Baobabs Get?
Baobab trees can grow very tall. They reach heights of 5 to 30 meters (about 16 to 98 feet). Their trunks are also very wide. They can be 7 to 11 meters (about 23 to 36 feet) across. A baobab's trunk can hold a huge amount of water, up to 120,000 liters! For most of the year, these trees don't have leaves. This makes them look like their roots are sticking up in the air.
Why Baobabs are Important
Baobab trees are very important in the places where they grow. They are some of the largest and most useful trees. They offer shelter and wood to both animals and people.
Baobab's Medicinal Uses
Parts of the baobab tree are used as medicine in some parts of Africa. For example, the leaves are used to make soup. People also use the tree to help treat different health problems. These include wounds, diarrhea, asthma, fever, and malaria.
How Long Do Baobab Trees Live?
Baobab trees are known for living a very long time. Exactly how long they live is still debated by scientists. In Limpopo, South Africa, there's a famous baobab tree. Its owners built a pub called "The Big Baobab Pub" inside its hollow trunk. This tree is 22 meters (72 feet) tall. Its trunk is 47 meters (155 feet) around. Scientists believe this tree might be over 6,000 years old!
Many Uses of the Baobab Tree
The baobab tree is often called the "tree of life." This is because it provides so many things. It can give shelter, clothing materials, food, and water. This helps both animals and people living in the African savannah regions.
What Can We Make from Baobab?
The bark of the baobab tree is like cork. It is also resistant to fire. People use it to make cloth and rope. The leaves are used in cooking and as medicine. The fruit is called "monkey bread." It is safe to eat and full of vitamin C. Experts think that the international market for baobab products could be worth a billion US dollars each year.
What Does Baobab Fruit Taste Like?
The baobab fruit has a soft, velvety shell. It is about the size of a coconut and weighs around 1.44 kilograms (about 3 pounds). The fruit has a slightly sour flavor. People describe it as tasting like a mix of grapefruit, pear, and vanilla.
How Baobabs Store Water
The baobab tree can store hundreds of liters of water. This is a special adaptation that helps it survive in dry conditions. When there is a drought, people can tap the tree to get water.
Baobabs as Homes
Older baobab trees often have hollow trunks. These hollow spaces provide homes for many animals. Sometimes, even humans use them as living spaces. Some baobab trees have been turned into bars, barns, or shops for wine and beer.
Images for kids
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Open flower showing distorted petals and the unfused ball of stamens set on top of the staminal tube
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Bisected flower showing the style running through the staminal tube, bending, then projecting out of the stamens
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The cut fruit from Mozambique
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Baobab powder
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Adansonia rubrostipa
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Adansonia suarezensis
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Adansonia digitata leaf
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Adansonia digitata flower
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Adansonia Pollen
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Adansonia digitata hanging fruit
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Adansonia rubrostipa, inside of fruit
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Adansonia digitata seeds from the fruit
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Elements of the fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata (clockwise from top right): whole fruit pulp chunks, fibers, seeds, powder from the pulp
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See also
In Spanish: Baobab para niños
